Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has warned Nigerian Army personnel against drug and substance abuse, urging soldiers to seek professional help for psychological challenges without fear of stigma or discrimination.
Shaibu said mental resilience, emotional stability and sound judgment were essential to military effectiveness, particularly amid Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
He spoke on Tuesday at a sensitisation seminar on Warrior Ethos, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Management and Drugs and Substance Abuse, organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Transformation and Innovation at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna State.
Represented by the Commander, Infantry Corps, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut, the army chief said military personnel required more than physical strength and combat skills to perform their duties effectively.
“The increasingly complex security environment requires soldiers to demonstrate not only physical strength and combat skills but also mental resilience, emotional stability and sound judgment,” he said.
Shaibu described warrior ethos as the foundation of military service, built on courage, discipline, loyalty, commitment to mission accomplishment and solidarity among troops.
He acknowledged that prolonged combat exposure, the loss of colleagues, traumatic incidents and separation from families could affect soldiers’ mental well-being, stressing that such experiences should not discourage personnel from seeking appropriate care.
“Courage does not make soldiers immune to psychological injuries,” he said, calling for professional treatment and rehabilitation for personnel experiencing mental health difficulties.
The Chief of Army Staff urged commanders to address the stigma surrounding mental health support and ensure soldiers could access counselling and professional assistance without fear of humiliation or unfair treatment.
On drug abuse, Shaibu warned that the misuse of intoxicating substances could impair judgment, weaken discipline, undermine unit cohesion and expose military personnel to unnecessary risks during operations.
He advocated a comprehensive response combining preventive education, effective supervision, early identification, medical intervention, rehabilitation and appropriate disciplinary measures. He also urged commanders to recognise that substance abuse could be linked to unresolved psychological distress, prolonged stress and personal difficulties.
“Warrior ethos strengthens the determination to fight, psychological resilience enhances the capacity to endure, while freedom from substance abuse preserves the judgment and discipline required for mission accomplishment,” he said.
Shaibu called on military formations to implement the seminar’s recommendations through improved welfare services, counselling and rehabilitation, particularly for soldiers returning from prolonged or traumatic deployments. He also commended President Bola Tinubu for providing strategic guidance and support to the Nigerian Army.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation, Maj.-Gen. Peter Okoye, represented by his deputy, Maj.-Gen. Michael Agi, said the seminar was designed to strengthen fighting spirit, discipline and unit cohesion while addressing psychological and behavioural challenges affecting military effectiveness.
Okoye said personnel welfare and mental and physical well-being remained essential to operational readiness. He urged participants to apply the lessons in their respective formations and training institutions, while commending Shaibu for approving the programme.
The seminar, scheduled to run from October 26 to 31, brings together military personnel and resource persons to examine warrior ethos, post-traumatic stress disorder management and substance abuse, with a focus on improving troop welfare and operational effectiveness.
